THE RECENT FIGHT.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4594, 4 May 1904, Page 2

THE RECENT FIGHT.

ing, as the result of which they were forced to retreat, the Russians made two stands. Their strength included the whole of the Third Division, two regiments of the Sixth and a cavalry brigade, whilst their arms included forty quick firers and eight machine guns. The Japanese casualties on Sunday amounted to seven hundred, while those of the Russians numbered upwards of eight hundred. The Russian Generals Sassulitch and Kashoalinski were wounded in the course of the engagement. The Japanese captured 28 quick- firers, a large number of rifles, 20 officers and many men. The attack of the Japanese upon Autung, at the mouth of the Yalu river, was so severe that the Russians were soon forced to evacuate the position. Before doing so they burned the town. They then retreated to the north east to Fengheng Cheng. The Japanese are now in complete control of the estuary of the Yalu, but the whereabouts of the second Japanese army, commanded by Baron Oko, as well as that of the third army, is un- , known. THE JAPANESE FLEET. A large Japanese fleet has been sighted off Taku Shau, in Manchuria, seventy miles to the west of the Yalu river.

London, May 2. — Reuter's correspondent in Tokio telegraphs that after five days' fighting, largely with artillery, General Kuroki, who commands in Corea, forced the passage of the Yalu, advancing on Sunday with a front ! of four miles. I The Japanese infantry, by means of gallant charges, expelled the Russians from Kinlien Cheng, and the heights on the right bank of the Aiho river. This movement turned the Russian left flank and swept away the new pest which the Russians had interposed to check the Japanese outward movement. The prasent position of the Japanese is a dominating' one and likely to result in the abandonment of the Russian defences at Antung and elsewhere between there and the mouth of the Yalu. General Kuroki began this movement on April 26fch, by ordering a detachment of guards to seize Kurito Island, above Wiju. The guards, after a resistance, occupied Kurito island. On Wednesday the Russians, with 9£ centimetre guns and two Hotchkiss guns, bombarded Wiju, but the Japanese did not respond, as the Russian fire was generally ineffective. During the whole of Thursday aud Friday the Russian artillery at Kinlien Cheng continued a high angle fire on Wiju, Kurito and Seikodo without drawing a reply from the Japanese. The Japanese twelfth division, on Friday, after driving the Russians from the bank opposite Suekochen, constructed a pontoon passage of the river, which commenced at three o'clock on Saturday morning and the entire division crossed during the day and by evening had occupied positions for Sunday's battle. A vigorous exchange of artillery fire took place chiefly to the advantage of the Japanese. Two Japanese were killed, and five officers and twenty- two men wounded. During Saturday's bombardment Admiral Hoysoya's flotilla of gunboats participated, scattering a mixed force of Russian infantry and cavalry below Antuncr. All night regiments poured across the bridge and by daylight General Kuroki concentrated all his artillery on the Russian posi* tion between Kinlien Cheng and Koshoke. The Russians vigorously replied, but by seven o'clock the Russian battery at Koshoke was silenced, and half an hour later General Kuroki attacked. A long entire line of Japanese infantry charged across the Aiho river, wading bre'aat -deep, and began storming the heights, and by nine o'clock they had swept the Russians back across the plateau. It is anticipated that the Japanese losses are heavy, especially f during the charge. The advance culminated in a bayonet charge of a heroic character. A high bluff, strongly entrenched and stubbornly defended, was carried with an immense dash. General Mouke commanded the earlier movements, and General Kuroki personally directed the final attack. The Russian casualties exceed those of the Japanese, besides they lost guns and material. Russian official despatches report that the Japanese opened a terrific artillery fire on the Russian positions at Twentchen and Po f i«nintoy, near the mouth of the Yalu, at four o'clock on Monday morning, but the overwhelming superiority of the enemy's artillery and the heavy Russian losses soon convinced General Sasaliteh that it would be impossible to hold Twientchin and Schakhedzy, consequently he retreated in good order to his second position at Potienintoy and Tochingu. General Kuroki reports that thirty thousand Russians held a front extending for four miles. There was tbreequarters of an hour's severe fighting before the heights from Kinlien Cheng to Makon and Kushouka were stormed. \ The Japanese General Kuroki reports that daring Sunday's fight* |